Burial-case.



PATENTED JUNE 2, 1903.,

No. 729,921. I

' G. J. DUNCAN.

BURIAL CASE. APZPLIGA'TION FILED AUG. 28, 1902.

N0 MODEL.

Niin STATES Patented June 2, 1903.

"PATENT FFICE.

consume SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 729,921, dated June 2, 1903. Application filed August 28,1902. Serial No. 121,267. (No model.)

To all whom it mty concern.-

Be it known that I, CLARK J. DUNCAN, a

citizen of the United States of America, re-- siding at Windber, in the county of Somerset and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Burial-Cases, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This'invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in burial-cases, and has for its object to construct a case which when sealed will be impervious to dampness, and in addition the invention has for its object to provide means for absorbing any moisture To this end the invention resides in the novel construction and arrangement, which embody substantially a case composed of artificial stone, vitrified material, porcelain, or any such substance which will be impervione to moisture. The case near its upper edge is provided with a ledge and also with a groove. The ledge is to receive'the lid, and a gasket is placed on the ledge, between the latter and the lid, so as to form a tight joint therewith. The lid is also provided with a groove running around the same, and in this groove and in that of the case is placed a cement or like substance, forming a seal and securely fastening the lid to the case, also assisting in the rendering of a moisture-proof joint between the case and the lid. The case isor may be provided on its inner face with vertically or otherwise disposed grooves, and

these grooves are adapted to receive a filling of moisture-absorbing material. the case is provided with openings to receive lowering straps or cords, and the case is provided with handles for ease in handling the same, all of which construction will be hereinafter more specifically described and then particularly pointed outin the claim.

In describing the invention in detail referor recess which receives the gasket 6.

The lid of burial-case. Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof with a portion of the lid broken away, so as to show the interior construction of the case. Fig. 8 is a transverse vertical sectional View of the case. Fig. ,4 is a detail perspective view of one of the strips of absorbent. material placed in the interior of the case.

To put my invention into practice, I provide a case 1, which, as stated, is composed of a hard substance, such as vitrified clay or artificial stone, or may be made of porcelain or the like and material of this nature which isa repellent tomoisture and which is cheap enough to manufacture. This case 1 is preferably molded and is provided with exterior strengthening-ribs 2 and has one or more handles 3 on each side for ease in manipulation orhandling of the case. r At its upper edge this case is formed with an overlying rim 4:, which is recessed in its upper face to form a shoulder or ledge 5, in which is mounted, partially countersunk therein, a gasket 6, which may be of rubber or other compressible material. The vertical wall of the shoulder 5 is formed with a groove 7, the two horizontal walls of which are parallel and the rear wall of which is at an incline, making the groove substantially dovetail in its form. A groove of like construction to this is formed inthe lid8, the groove '7 in the lid and the groove 7 in the rim of the case being opposite each other.

ledge 5 of the case, fitting the same neatly and provided in its inner face with a groove The lid is also constructed with a downwardlyextending flange 10, which fits against the inner face of the case, as seen in Fig. 3.

I preferably construct the case 1 with grooves 11 on its inner face. In the present illustration these grooves are shown dovetail in form and are arranged vertically of the case, though the grooves maybe arranged longitudinally of the case, if desired, or both vertically and horizontally. They are adapted to receive the filling or packing strips of absorbent material 14, composed of okum or any suitable absorbent material. The dovetail nature of the grooves serves to retain this absorbent material in position, and the The lid 7 is constructed with a flange 9, which rests upon the shoulder or employment of the material serves to absorb any moisture which may be in the case when the latter is sealed.

The lid is sealed to the case after being placed thereon by a suitable composition, as shown at 15, such-as cement; which when it hardens assists in rendering the joint air-tight and practically renders the lid immovable from the case. lhis cement sealing compo sition when in its plasticstate fills in the gooves 7 and 7, as seen in Fig. 3, so that the lid is securely sealed. The lid is also constructed with strengthening-ribs, which may pass in different directions across the same and through one or more of which suitable openings 16 are provided to receive lowering straps or cords to facilitate lowering of the case into a grave or vault.

In the construction of the case it wlll be observed that Various slight changes may be 20 Witnesses: I

JOHN B. HOWE, JOHN KINNEY. 

